CHAPTER LX.

SAMUEL ANOINTS DAVID.

For what purpose did God send Samuel to Bethlehem?

To anoint another king in place of one of Saul's sons.

From whose family was this king to be chosen?

From the family of Isaï, or Jesse.
How many sons had Isaï?
Eight.

Did they all appear before Samuel?

At first Isaï brought his seven sons before Samuel, supposing that one of these was to be chosen. But Samuel rejected them all, and asked Isaï,"Are here all thy sons ?"

Isaï's reply.

"There remaineth yet a young one that keepeth the sheep."

Was he sent for?

He

Samuel said to Isaï: "Send to fetch him; for we will not sit down till he come hither." sent, therefore, and brought him.

What was the name of this youngest son?
David.

How is he described in the Scripture? "He was ruddy and beautiful to behold, and of a comely face."

How did Samuel know that David was the one whom God had chosen?

The Lord said, "Arise and anoint him; for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brethren, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward."—1 Kings, xvi. 13.

David soon after was brought before Saul. How did this happen?

An evil spirit was wont from time to time to torment Saul, and, in order to soothe his trouble, he commanded his servants to look for some one who could play well on the harp. And one of the servants answering, said, "Behold, I have seen a son of Isaï, the Bethlehemite, a skilful player, and one of great strength, and a man fit for war, and prudent in his words, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him."1 Kings, xvi. 17, 18.

Did Saul thereupon send for David?

Yes. "And David came to Saul, and stood before him, and he loved him exceedingly, and made him his armour-bearer."

Did David assist him in his illness?

"Whensoever the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, David took his harp, and played with his hand, and Saul was refreshed, and was better, for the evil spirit had departed from him."

CHAPTER LXI.

GOLIATH AND DAVID.

There broke out war between Saul and the Philistines. Whom had the Philistines as their champion?

A base-born man named Goliath of Geth, a giant.

What was his height?

Six cubits and a span.
How was he armed?

"He had a helmet of brass upon his head, and he was clothed with a coat of mail with scales, and the weight of his coat of mail was five thousand sicles of brass. He had greaves of brass on his legs, and a buckle of brass covered his shoulders, and the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred sicles of iron, and his armour bearer went before him."

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How did Goliath challenge the Israelites? "Give me," he said, a man, and let him fight with me, hand to hand."

How did the Israelites receive his challenge? They were greatly afraid of the man because he was so large a giant, and none of the soldiers offered to fight against him.

Who, at length, accepted the challenge?
David, the son of Isaï.

How came he to know anything about it?
His father had sent him with a present of

provisions to visit his brothers who were in Saul's army; and having heard the soldiers speaking to one another about the giant, he volunteered to fight with him.

Did his brothers give him any encouragement?

No. His eldest brother, Eliab, was angry with him, and said, "Why camest thou hither? I know thy pride and the wickedness of thy heart, that thou art come down to see the battle."

What was David's reply?

"What have I done? Is there not a cause?

How did he answer Saul's objection: "Thou art not able to withstand this Philistine, nor to fight against him: for thou art but a boy, but he is a warrior from his youth"?

He told him that, as once while he was tending his father's sheep, a lion and a bear came and took one of the rams, and he pursued after the lion and the bear, and slew them both; in like manner he would be able to destroy this Philistine.

In what words did he express his confidence in God?

And David said: "The Lord, who hath delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine."

Did Saul then allow him to go against the giant?

Yes. He moreover "clothed David with his garments, and put a helmet of brass upon his

head, and armed him with a coat of mail." Was David able to fight with this armour ?

No. He had not been accustomed to wear it; so he took it off, and having selected five stones out of the brook, and put them into the shepherd's scrip, which he had with him, and having taken a sling, in this way advanced against the Philistine.

How did Goliath receive him?

He was in a great rage with him, because ho came to fight him only with a sling. "Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with a staff? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods." Which of the two combatants prevailed?

"David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck and slew the Philistine.'

What did he do when the Philistine had fallen?

As he had no sword in his hand, he ran and stood over Goliath, and taking the Philistine's sword, with it he cut off his head.

What became of the army of the enemy, after the death of Goliath?

"The Philistines, seeing that their champion was dead, fled away," and were pursued and routed by the Israelites.

Where did David take the head of Goliath?

"David, taking the head of the Philistine, brought it to Jerusalem; but his armour he put in his tent."

How did Saul reward David?

He made him one of the princes, took him to